Zoo Snooze - Overnight Experiences for Children

Spend the Night Snoozing at the Zoo

photo of Zoo Snooze

Stories and activities help dispel myths about bats and other nocturnal animals.
photo: Education Division

Looking for a fun educational experience for your group, ages 8-12? A zoo snooze may be just the thing for you. The NC Zoo offers exciting overnight programs to engage your brain, entertain your senses, and enhance your environmental awareness. Starting at 7:00pm, each adventure includes special presentations, activities, a light snack, an outdoor experience and a craft to take home. The fun will resume the next morning, after a light breakfast, until 9:00 when you continue the adventure on your own in the North Carolina Zoo’s 500-acre park.

Zoo snoozes are offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, subject to availability.

Creatures of the Night

Go batty over creatures of the night! Explore skills and senses of nocturnal animals in this fun and exciting program. Concentrating on bats and owls, we’ll shed some light on the mystery of what’s really going ‘bump in the night’. Through presentations and activities, participants will develop a greater understanding of our nighttime neighbors, their roles in our environment and how we can help them. Students will have a blast building bat boxes and a hoot dissecting owl pellets. (more)

Scutes, Scales, and Slippery Skin

Slither and slide your way into the secretive world of reptiles and amphibians. Discover the differences between these animals and what they can tell us about our environment. Spend the evening exploring the world of these elusive backyard creatures with games, activities and presentations. Invite a toad to live in your yard by building a toad abode. In the morning, journey to the water's edge to forage for froggy food. (more)

Safari Snooze

This zoo snooze is a unique opportunity for small groups with a maximum of 15 people. Learn about our giant pachyderms, striped equines and ungulates, as we discover the importance of the African Savanna. Checking out an elephant hide, the skull of a giraffe and the tail of a zebra are just some of the ways we will get to know more about these animals and their role in this special ecosystem. This zoo snooze also provides hands on activities to learn about African culture. (more)

What to Bring to a Zoo Snooze

Recommended items:

Sleeping Bag
Sleeping pad or air mattress
Pillow
Pajamas or Sweatsuit
Weather appropriate clothing (be prepared for a change in the weather!)
Rain Gear
Hand Towel & Washcloth
Toothpaste & Toothbrush
Personal Items (toiletries, cosmetics, etc)
Comfortable Walking Shoes
Medications

Optional items:

Camera
Small Backpack or Waist Pack

The Following are prohibited on Zoo Snoozes:

Heelys
Pets
Toys
Valuables
Radio and Headsets
Portable Televisions
Laptops
Flip-Flops and Sandals

The North Carolina Zoological Park cannot be responsible for lost or misplaced items, or for items retrieved accidentally by other participants. Be sure to label ALL gear.

Zoo Snooze Ground Rules

Participant to chaperone ratio must not exceed 1 chaperone for every 2 children. Please note that chaperones and participants are included in the minimum and maximum number for each program.
Siblings and additional adults, are not permitted at zoo snooze programs. If you have additional people who would like to attend the zoo with your group, they may meet you at zoo admissions, 9:00am the following morning. If you need accommodations for additional guests, please visit www.visitrandolphcounty.com.
Once you have reserved a date for your program, a non-refundable deposit of $250 is due. You have two (2) weeks after registration to mail in your deposit. Checks should be made payable to NC Zoo Society, and sent to NC ZOO Education, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro NC 27203. Once your deposit is received, a confirmation will be sent to you.
An exact number of participants (children and chaperones) and final payment are due two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled program. Please be advised that after this date numbers cannot be changed. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to our maximum number of participants. These numbers are set to ensure a quality experience for everyone.
Zoo Snooze is an all weather adventure. In the event of severe weather, the zoo reserves the right to cancel a program and reschedule your group. However, if this is not an option, a refund will be available. If you find it necessary to cancel your booking, payment is only refundable if the zoo is able to fill the date with another group. Please note that the $250 deposit is non-refundable regardless.
The zoo admission is a component of the zoo snooze program and is only valid the day following your zoo snooze. No rainchecks!

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N.C. Zoo is a member institution of AZA and an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr. Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor. A part of the North Carolina Government portal.

The Zoo is closed Christmas day and during severe weather. Call our information line at: 1-800-488-0444.

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